Calling the Fishermen

Jesus was in Capernaum, standing by the Sea of Galilee, also called the Lake of Gennesaret. And the crowd was pressing in on Him to hear the word of God He was teaching. Jesus saw two boats at the edge of the lake. The fishermen had left their boats and were washing and mending their nets. Jesus got into the boat belonging to Simon Peter and asked him to put out a little ways from shore. Then, Jesus sat down and taught the people from the boat.

When Jesus finished speaking, He said to Simon, “Put out into deep water and let down your nets for a catch.”

“Master,” Simon replied, “we have worked hard all night without catching anything. But because You say so, I will let down the nets.” When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to tear. So, they signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink.

When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees. “Go away from me, Lord,” he said, “for I am a sinful man.” For Simon Peter and his brother Andrew were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken, and so were his partners James and John, the sons of Zebedee.

“Do not be afraid,” Jesus said to Simon. “From now on you will catch people.” And when they had brought their boats ashore, Simon and Andrew left everything and followed Him.

Jesus turned to James and John, who were in their boat with their father Zebedee. Jesus called them, and they left their father in the boat with the hired men and followed Jesus.

(See Matthew 4:18-22;  Mark 1:16-20; Luke 5:1-11)

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